Fort Union Trading Post Historic Structures Report (Part II) Historical Data Section

The origins of the northeast bastion are identical to the southwest bastion. In 1843, Denig described the two as being the same: 24 feet square, over 30 feet in height, and having 3-foot thick walls. The buffalo weather vane on top has already been noted. This bastion's armament was greater than was the southwest's; Denig (1843) wrote that it had "one three-pounder iron cannon and one brass swivel . . . together with a dozen muskets."

The dormer opening onto its gallery, as shown in several sketches, was on the west slope of the roof, facing into the fort. Although two sketches (unknown artist [U. S. wagon] and the Bedticking) show a third story of wood, the basic structure of this bastion was not altered. The 1866 photograph shows clearly that it was still a 2-story stone structure. Its walls were whitewashed and, like the other's, shingles covered its roof.

The matter of openings in its walls is as much a matter of conjecture, for the most part, as is the southwest's:

By the time the Soldier drew his sketch in 1864, it appears that the gallery around the northeast bastion had been removed. Also, the weathervane had disappeared, although a short spire still rose from the roof tops. The Photo of 1866 confirms these changes. It also shows that this bastion had fallen into such a state of disrepair as to require planks to help keep it propped up.